Ministry on the Fireline: A Practical Theology for an Empowered Church (Ray S. Anderson Collection)

"The best theory for fighting fires comes from actually engaging in the battle against the flames," Ray Anderson writes. "For the thousands of pastors and church leaders who are on the 'firelines' of God's mission in the world, we need a theology that sings, even as it stings, igniting the mind and stirring the heart." In these pages, then, Anderson passionately sets forth a vision of the church's work and mission based on its birthday: Pentecost. At Pentecost, Christians were given the Holy Spirit in order to understand the incarnation and come alive to God. So this key event directs and empowers the church in its service to the world. In the light of Pentecost we learn that we can come to know God only in praxis -- truth discovered through action. In the process of elucidating this praxis, Anderson seeks to construct a theology that not only truly respects and aids ministers on the firelines, but will also heal the breach between Pentecostal and mainline church theology.

"The best theory for fighting fires comes from actually engaging in the battle against the flames," Ray Anderson writes. "For the thousands of pastors and church leaders who are on the 'firelines' of God's mission in the world, we need a theology that sings, even as it stings, igniting the mind and stirring the heart."

In these pages, then, Anderson passionately sets forth a vision of the church's work and mission based on its birthday: Pentecost. At Pentecost, Christians were given the Holy Spirit in order to understand the incarnation and come alive to God. So this key event directs and empowers the church in its service to the world.

In the light of Pentecost we learn that we can come to know God only in praxis—truth discovered through action. In the process of elucidating this praxis, Anderson seeks to construct a theology that not only truly respects and aids ministers on the firelines, but will also heal the breach between Pentecostal and mainline church theology.

RAY ANDERSON (1925-2009) was Senior Professor of Theology and Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary and served on the faculty of the School of Theology since 1976. He has published over twenty books, including Spiritual Caregiving as Secular Sacrament, The Soul of Ministry, Self-Care, Living the Spiritually Balanced Life, and Dancing with Wolves while Feeding the Sheep. The Musings of a Maverick Theologian.

ONTHE 3 THE CHRIST OF PENTECOST 21 A VISION OF HEALING AND HOPE 41 A VISION OF FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM 55 The Gospel of Encouragement 61 A VISION OF EMANCIPATION AND CONSECRATION 73 The Praxis of Sanctification 75 The Praxis of liberation 77 The Praxis of Consecration 81 A VISION OF ENTITLEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT 87 The Praxis of Entitlement 88 A PAULINE PERSPECTIVE 101 Paul’s Revelation Theology 106 Paul’s Redemption Theology 108 Paul’s Christological Hermeneutic of the Spirit 110 Mission Theology and the Nature of the Church 114 AN APOSTOLIC MANDATE 119 The Apostolic Foundation of the Church 121 Apostleship as an Eschatological Orientation 126 The Apostolic Mandate for Mission Theology 129 AN EMERGING CHURCH 135 A CHARISMATIC DYNAMIC 149 The Pentecostal Movement—A Theological Anomaly 153 The Third Wove Movement—Its Theological Inadequacy 158 Toward an Authentic Charismatic Theology 163 A CONCERN FOR TRUTHFUL LIFE 167 THE CHRIST OF THE CITY 183 A Call to Repentance and Responsibility 189 To My Colleagues in Theological Education for Ministry 197 A Modest Proposal 204 A Call for Repentance and Renewal 208 Index 233